NFL Player News

With Deshaun Watson (Achilles) out for the season, the Browns are turning to Winston for Week 8. Winston was the team’s third quarterback in Week 7, though Schultz reports Dorian Thompson-Robinson was the backup “strictly from a gameplan standpoint” for Week 7. Coming in for the final Browns offensive possession against the Bengals, Winston completed 5-of-11 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. He is a career 61.1 percent passer, with 142 touchdowns and 99 interceptions. The Browns offense has struggled this season, and Winston starting could boost pass-catchers like David Njoku, Cedric Tillman, and Jerry Jeudy. However, fantasy managers should wait before inserting anyone but Njoku or Nick Chubb into fantasy lineups from the Cleveland offense. Meanwhile, Thompson-Robinson is the likely backup for now.

Decker has missed three straight games with the knee issue. The Lions already have one eye on the postseason, so slow-playing his return makes sense. Decker did not practice at all last week, so a return to practice on Wednesday is a step in the right direction for the stud tackle. He is on track to play in Week 15 against Buffalo, adding a bit more fuel to the shootout fire on the horizon.

Coleman has been back at practice for multiple weeks but had been held to limited sessions before today. A full practice to open the week puts him on track to suit up for a likely shootout with the Lions. Coleman’s two best games of the year both came just before he went down with the wrist issue in Week 9. Once back to full speed, Coleman could make his way to the top of the WR3 ranks. With his role for Week 15 to be determined, fantasy managers should approach Coleman with caution in his first game back.

Kincaid was limited in all three practices last week but was held out of Sunday’s game versus the Rams. The extra week off should ensure that the knee issue doesn’t resurface down the road. Kincaid was stringing together low-ceiling TE1 weeks before the injury and should play his usual role in a shootout with Detroit this week. He will sneak back into the TE1 ranks in his first game back.

Pierce noted that Sincere McCormick would remain the team’s No. 1 back, so Mattison’s return won’t change much in the backfield. Mattison was limited in all three practices last week but was held out on Sunday. He should be upgraded to a full participant this week before being cleared for action. Fantasy managers shouldn’t worry about stashing Mattison even in deep leagues. McCormick, on the other hand, has worked himself into an RB3 ranking going forward.

Musgrave is back at practice after spending two months on injured reserve because of the ankle issue. The Packers now have three weeks to officially bring him off injured reserve. Musgrave won’t factor into the team’s plans on offense for the regular season but could work his way into a part-time role for the playoffs.

It’s not a done deal yet, but Belichick’s talks with North Carolina can no longer be written off as a power play toward an NFL gig. The interest appears to be real and mutual. Belichick was passed over for multiple head coaching gigs during the last NFL hiring cycle and has spent the 2024 season in various media roles. Bill was never long for the media world and is set to enter the college ranks for the first time in his storied career. He will replace legendary college football coach Mack Brown, who was relieved of his duties after a 6-6 regular season campaign. With the NIL era reshaping how college football teams are managed, Belichick’s experience as the Patriots’ de facto general manager will also come in handy. It’s certainly an odd fit for arguably the greatest NFL coach of all time, but we like Belichick’s odds in an increasingly stale looking ACC.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Drew Lock was in a walking boot and would miss at least one game, putting DeVito back under center for Week 15. In his lone 2024 start, DeVito completed 21-of-31 pass attempts for 189 scoreless yards and was sacked four times against the Bucs. DeVito’s primary job against the Ravens will be to funnel targets to Malik Nabers against one of the worst secondaries in the NFL.

Brown, per Quinn, suffered internal injuries two weeks ago against the Titans and looks to be out indefinitely. Brown has positioned himself as the Commanders’ de facto WR2 behind Terry McLaurin. Brown’s absence could open up more targets for McLaurin, Zach Ertz, and Dyami Brown in the run-heavy Washington offense.

Fowler added that “no firm determination has been made” about who will start for New Orleans this week after Derek Carr went down in Week 14 with a left hand injury. Though he’s been better than Spencer Rattler this year, Haener has completed just 49 percent of his attempts, with a 37 percent drop back success rate. Whether it’s Haener or Rattler, the Washington defense profiles as an elite fantasy option in Week 15.

It appears Hopkins will get another chance to redeem himself after missing nine of his 25 field goal tries in 2024. The Browns on Tuesday signed K Riley Patterson, prompting speculation that Hopkins’ days as Cleveland’s starter were over. Hopkins should remain on waiver wires this week.